Meat and beer just days away from disappearing from UK shops due to gas shortage

Experts say a nationwide lack of C02 means supplies of pork and chicken will soon run out on many supermarket shelves – and the issue could even affect Christmas dinners

Meat and beer shortages could hit supermarkets in days as vital carbon dioxide stocks run low, experts say.

Carbon dioxide (C02) is used in carbonated beers, like lagers, and is also used to asphyxiate animals in abattoirs.

The UK is currently going through a C02 shortage, which could lead to shortages of these goods in stores.

The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) says supplies of C02 could run out in two weeks – and some poultry plants have run out already.

BMPA chief executive Nick Allen told The Mirror that up to 90% of chicken and pig slaughterhouses have to stop work without C02.

This would mean shortages of meat within days, he added.

Have you noticed shortages of food or beer where you are? Message sam.barker@reachplc.com

The owner of meat giant Bernard Matthews, Ranjit Singh Boparan, said the C02 crisis was “catastrophic” for the poultry industry.

Boparan said: “The supply of Bernard Matthews turkeys this Christmas was already compromised as I need to find 1,000 extra workers to process supplies. Now with no C02 supply, Christmas will be cancelled.

“The C02 issue is a massive body blow and puts us at breaking point, it really does – that’s poultry, beef, pork, as well as the wider food industry.

“Without C02, the bottom line is there is less throughput and with our sector already compromised with lack of labour, this potentially tips us over the edge.”

A Tory minister has been forced to deny the gas price crisis could lead to empty chicken and pork shelves in two weeks’ time.

Alok Sharma assured Brits there was no “immediate concern” about gas supplies this winter after wholesale prices rose 70% since August.

C02 is also used when packaging meat, to keep it fresh and prolong its shelf life. It is also used to make beer and soft drinks fizzy.

The UK has a C02 shortage for several reasons.

We get a lot of the vital gas as a by-product from fertiliser plants.

Around 60% of the UK’s C02 comes from two plants operated by CF Industries in Stockton-on-Tees and Ince in Cheshire.

However, these plants have paused production due to another problem – rising energy prices.

Energy prices are rising at an eye-watering rate due to surging demand post Covid, low wind speeds in Europe and power station closures, as well as a fire in Kent which cut off power supplies from France.

The problem means four more energy suppliers could go bust this week as small firms struggle to shoulder the costs of a 250% rise in wholesale gas prices.

Gas and electricity provider Bulb, which has almost two million customers, is today in crisis talks, in what could make it the fifth supplier to collapse in a month.

Utility Point and People’s Energy stopped trading last week, affecting 500,000 households.

Utility Point has around 220,000 customers while People’s Energy has 350,000 people signed up to use its services.